Passive verbs

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I am still having hard time understanding why "were needed" are passive voice use. Can someone explain it to me please and what can I use.

See example:

The company did not provided any material than a laptop; therefore, while tutoring the students, I would buy the materials that were needed, such as, pencils, papers, color pencils, markers, flash cards, and computer ink.

1 answer

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First, there are a few changes to make to your paragraph.

Change provided to provide - they 'did not provide' or 'have not provided'

Insert 'other' before "than"

The company did not provide any material other than a laptop; therefore, while tutoring the students, I would buy the materials that were needed, such as, pencils, papers, color pencils, markers, flash cards, and computer ink.

"The materials that were needed" is passive because you're describing the materials in terms of something/one else's action. Someone else needed the materials. The materials themselves did nothing (they were passive).

To remove the passive you would change "I would buy the materials that were needed, such as..." to read: "I would buy the required materials, such as..."

The company did not provide any material other than a laptop; therefore, while tutoring the students, I would buy the required materials, such as, pencils, papers, color pencils, markers, flash cards, and computer ink.